Americans United - Steve Beshearhttps://au.org/tags/steve-beshear
enName Game: Ky. Gov. Issues Order Permitting Kim Davis To Remove Her Moniker From Marriage Licenses https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/name-game-ky-gov-issues-order-permitting-kim-davis-to-remove-her-moniker
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Kim Davis is really bad at doing her job but really good at creating legal chaos.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Kim Davis is <a href="https://www.lc.org/newsroom/details/governor-matt-bevin-issues-executive-order-protecting-ky-clerk-kim-davis">still causing chaos</a> in Kentucky.</p><p>As you probably remember, the Rowan County clerk <a href="https://au.org/media/press-releases/kim-davis-should-go-back-to-jail-if-she-interferes-with-deputy-clerks-ability">did a brief stint in jail</a> several months ago, not because of her religious beliefs, but because she would not issue marriage licenses to eligible couples and prevented her staff from doing so as well. After her release, Davis was <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/us/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0">mum on whether she would issue licenses</a> herself or allow her staff to do so. And on her first day back “on the job” (in quotes because she still refuses to actually do her job), Davis reportedly stayed in her office all day with the door and blinds closed.</p><p>In the weeks that followed, Davis’ staff got back to its taxpayer-funded task of issuing marriage licenses to all qualified couples. But there is another problem – those licenses may not be valid.</p><p>Since Sept. 4, Davis’ office has issued licenses without Davis’ name. In its place is the county name. Kentucky law, however, requires the issuing clerk’s name to be on the licenses. And to make matters even more confusing, Davis created <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/kim-davis-altered-marriage-licenses-375866">yet another version</a> of Rowan County marriage licenses in which she made multiple changes, including removing the phrase “in the office of” and changing it to “Pursuant to Federal Court Order #15-CV-44-DLB.”</p><p>Now some are wondering about the validity of Davis’ altered licenses. In fact, the lawyers representing the plaintiffs in the ongoing lawsuit against Davis have argued that <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-responds-governor-matt-bevins-executive-order-removing-clerks-names-marriage-licenses">the altered licenses violate the court’s earlier orders</a>, and have asked the judge to require Davis to use the proper form.</p><p>Somehow the situation got even worse yesterday, thanks to new Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R). Previous Gov. Steve Beshear (D) chose not to aid or abet Davis, but Bevin is a Tea Party ally who opposes marriage equality and <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2015/09/01/matt-bevin-defends-rowan-clerk-kim-davis/71514564/">has expressed support for the clerk</a>. He decided to issue an executive order that allows for the removal of all clerk’s names from marriage licenses. Bevin said the action would “ensure that the sincerely held religious beliefs of all Kentuckians are honored.”</p><p>Mat Staver, Davis’ anti-gay Religious Right attorney, quickly praised the order.</p><p>“This is a wonderful Christmas gift for Kim Davis,” Staver said. “This executive order is a clear, simple accommodation on behalf of Kim Davis and all Kentucky clerks. Kim can celebrate Christmas with her family knowing she does not have to choose between her public office and her deeply-held religious convictions.”</p><p>Bevin’s order may have been a gift to Davis, but it’s a lump of coal not only for LGBT couples but anyone who receives a license that may violate Kentucky law. State law requires the name of the county clerk to be on marriage licenses, and it’s at best unclear if Bevin has the authority to change that unilaterally.</p><p>Why should this matter? After all, it’s only a name on a piece of paper. But remember this: Any doubt about the validity of a marriage can have serious repercussions. Disputes over inheritances, for example, have been known to get pretty nasty at times, and a challenge to the validity of a union could certainly be raised during that sort of conflict.</p><p>In fact, something similar already happened in Texas when a surviving same-sex spouse made claim to assets left to her by her deceased wife in 2014 and the deceased woman’s family claimed the marriage was not valid because the union pre-dated the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/once-more-with-enthusiasm-texas-attorney-general-again-refuses-to-recognize">sided with the family</a>, though a judge eventually forced him to abandon that position.</p><p>Kim Davis is really bad at doing her job but really good at creating legal chaos. It’s a shame that she now has support from Kentucky’s governor, but none of this will help her achieve her goal of preventing same-sex couples from getting married in Kentucky. The U.S. Supreme Court has already settled that issue.</p><p>The latest antics are a distracting sideshow that may end up in court. Meanwhile, Davis’ original lawsuit, in which she claims to have a “religious freedom” right to deny service to same-sex couples, has now reached the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Americans United will be filing a brief, urging the court to reaffirm the obvious idea that Davis’ religious beliefs do not allow her to override citizens’ constitutional right to marry. As before, she has two options: Do her job or resign.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/marriage">Marriage</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kim-davis">Kim Davis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/matt-bevin">Matt Bevin</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/mat-staver">Mat Staver</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/aclu">ACLU</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/aclu-kentucky">ACLU - Kentucky</a></span></div></div>Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:43:22 +0000Simon Brown11612 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/name-game-ky-gov-issues-order-permitting-kim-davis-to-remove-her-moniker#commentsBluegrass Bonanza: Ky. Officials Reject ‘Ark Park’s’ Request For $18 Million Tax Rebatehttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bluegrass-bonanza-ky-officials-reject-ark-park-s-request-for-18-million-tax
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The timing on this could not easily be better. AiG has been on the defensive thanks to AU’s complaints, and it said earlier this week that it would run 16 billboards throughout the state promoting Ark Encounter and attacking “intolerant” groups like AU. AiG also said it bought a 15-second digital video display that will run in New York City’s Times Square.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>It’s a Christmas miracle! <a href="https://au.org/church-state/october-2014-church-state/featured/rough-sailing">After years of complaints</a> by Americans United about Kentucky’s ongoing taxpayer assistance for a Christian fundamentalist theme park, state officials finally said they <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/12/10/ky-wont-grant-noahs-ark-park-tax-incentives/20220905/">will not offer the project generous tax subsidies</a>.</p><p>Answers in Genesis (AiG), a creationist Christian ministry, had applied for a 25 percent sales tax rebate through the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet for Ark Encounter, a theme park that will feature a 510-foot replica of Noah’s Ark. The application received preliminary approval, and since the project is expected to cost $73 million, final approval would have cost the state up to $18 million in sales tax revenue.</p><p>But the Ark Park sailed into stormy seas in August when Americans United <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/stormy-seas-discriminatory-hiring-practices-at-ky-ark-park-put-its-tax">informed the tourism cabinet</a> that AiG had posted online an opening for a computer-assisted design technician to work at Ark Encounter. That job post has since been removed, but in the August description, AiG said applicants must submit a “[c]reation belief statement,” as well as “[c]onfirmation of [their] agreement with the AiG Statement of Faith.”</p><p>That “statement of faith” required potential AiG employees to affirm their belief that homosexuality is a sin on par with bestiality and incest, that the earth is only 6,000 years old and that the Bible is literally true. Anyone who doesn’t agree with those statements won’t be considered for the job.</p><p>Apparently that was a deal breaker for the tax rebate. Bob Stewart, secretary of the tourism cabinet, <a href="/files/KY_Ark_Encounter-12-10-14.pdf">said yesterday in a letter</a> to AiG that he doesn’t believe the ministry is willing to hire non-believers for Ark Encounter, and that would cause serious constitutional concerns.</p><p>Stewart also noted that the project is clearly evangelistic in nature – something Americans United had pointed out repeatedly.</p><p>“[I]t is readily apparent that the project has evolved from a tourism project to an extension of AIG’s ministry that will no longer permit the Commonwealth to grant the project tourism development incentives,” Stewart wrote. “The use of state incentives in this way violates the Separation of Church and State provisions of the Constitution and is therefore impermissible.”<br /><br />Of course, Ark Encounter did not “evolve” (yes, the irony here is wonderful). According to the project’s own website, “The purpose of the Ark Encounter is to point people to the only means of salvation from sin, the Lord Jesus Christ, who also is the only God-appointed way to escape eternal destruction.”</p><p>That’s one thing AiG has always been honest about: the Ark Park is an evangelistic enterprise.</p><p>The timing on this could not easily be better. AiG has been on the defensive thanks to AU’s complaints, and it said earlier this week that it would run <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2014/12/08/answers-genesis-said-will-run-billboards-counter-myths-proposed-ark-theme-park/20105843/">16 billboards throughout the state</a> promoting Ark Encounter and attacking “intolerant” groups like AU. AiG also said it bought a 15-second digital video display that will run in New York City’s Times Square.</p><p>Unfortunately, this story is not over. The overtly religious Ark Park has already received significant assistance from state and local lawmakers, including a 75 percent property tax break over 30 years from the City of Williamstown (a town of about 3,200 near where the park will be located); an $11 million road upgrade in a rural area that would almost exclusively facilitate traffic going to and from the park; a $200,000 gift from the Grant County Industrial Development Authority to make sure the project stays in that county; 100 acres of reduced-price land and, finally, a $62 million municipal bond issue from Williamstown that has kept this project afloat.</p><p>There’s also the possibility of a lawsuit over the tax rebate. Various media reports said yesterday that AiG is considering its options. Previously, an AiG official claimed audaciously that his organization actually <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/constitutional-confusion-ky-ark-park-claims-first-amendment-right-to">has a First Amendment right</a> to tax credits even though it is a religious enterprise.</p><p>Whether or not this $18 million loss is enough to pull the plug on the Ark Park remains unclear. But the ongoing controversy surrounding Kentucky’s taxpayer-funded assistance for the park has become something of an embarrassment for Gov. Steve Beshear. He touted the park’s economic benefits <a href="https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ark-park-earmark-kentucky-governor-floats-religion-funding-scheme">as far back as 2010</a>, but various delays have pushed back the park’s estimated opening. Last we heard, AiG head Ken Ham said Ark Encounter would open in the spring of 2016.</p><p>For his part, Beshear supported the tourism cabinet’s decision not to award a massive tax rebate to the Ark Park.</p><p><strong>“</strong>[I]t has become apparent that they do intend to use religious beliefs as a litmus test for hiring decisions,” the governor said in a statement.</p><p>Perhaps Beshear changed his tune because the Ark Park will never be what he had hoped for in terms of job creation. Lawmakers originally believed the theme park could yield as many as 900 jobs, but it has been reported that AiG plans to hire just 265 employees, 218 of which will be part time. </p><p>Kentucky officials may have finally realized that Ark Encounter just isn’t worth all this trouble. Between years of delays, legal problems and a lack of quality jobs, Kentucky would get minimal return on its investment. Of course Americans United has been saying all this for years. It’s good to see state officials finally listened. </p><p>P.S. Here’s a shout-out to blogger Dan Arel, whose excellent work <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/">digging into the byzantine</a> (and often shifting) employment policies of Ark Encounter was a great help to Americans United.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice">Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice in the Workplace</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ken-ham">Ken Ham</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-encounter">Ark Encounter</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/answers-genesis">Answers in Genesis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-park">Ark Park</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky-tourism">Kentucky Tourism</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/arts-and-heritage-cabinet">Arts and Heritage Cabinet</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/bob-stewart">Bob Stewart</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/times-square">Times Square</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/kentucky">Kentucky</a></span></div></div>Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:54:37 +0000Simon Brown10744 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bluegrass-bonanza-ky-officials-reject-ark-park-s-request-for-18-million-tax#commentsStormy Seas?: Discriminatory Hiring Practices At Ky. ‘Ark Park’ Put Its Tax Incentives In Doubthttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/stormy-seas-discriminatory-hiring-practices-at-ky-ark-park-put-its-tax
<a href="/about/people/simon-brown">Simon Brown</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">We’re not exactly sure why Kentucky officials suddenly got cold feet, but it might have something to do with the fact that Ark Encounter isn’t going to employ anywhere near as many people as originally thought. When AiG finally announced it would begin hiring for the Ark Park over the summer, it was reportedly looking to fill just 265 jobs, 218 of which will be part time. That’s far short of the 900 positions lawmakers had expected. </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>After years of complaints by Americans United about Kentucky’s ongoing taxpayer assistance for a Christian fundamentalist theme park, it seems state officials may finally be having <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2014/10/07/ark-park-hiring-issue-jeopardizes-tax-incentives/16854657/">second thoughts</a> about their involvement with the project.</p><p>Since 2010, AU has <a href="https://au.org/church-state/october-2014-church-state/featured/rough-sailing">chronicled the ever-expanding list</a> of tax and other incentives offered by Kentucky lawmakers to Ark Encounter, a proposed theme park featuring a 510-foot replica of Noah’s Ark. The fact that the Ark Park’s parent company, a ministry called Answers in Genesis (AiG), has admitted that the purpose of the venture is “evangelistic” had no effect on politicians’ seemingly endless willingness to prop up the planned park through its years of financial struggles. Until now.</p><p>We learned yesterday that $18 million in tax incentives that had been preliminarily promised to the Ark Park by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Board are at risk thanks to AiG’s discriminatory hiring practices.</p><p>In August, AU <a href="https://au.org/files/pdf_documents/2014-08-22%20Frankfort%252c%20KY%20-%20Ark%20Park%20Religious%20Discrimination.pdf">informed</a> the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority and Gov. Steve Beshear (D) that AiG had posted online an opening for a computer-assisted design technician to work at Ark Encounter. That job post has since been removed, but in the August description, AiG said applicants must submit a “[c]reation belief statement,” as well as “[c]onfirmation of [their] agreement with the AiG Statement of Faith.”</p><p>That “statement of faith” required potential AiG employees to affirm their belief that homosexuality is a sin on par with bestiality and incest, that the earth is only 6,000 years old and that the Bible is literally true. Anyone who doesn’t agree with those statements won’t be considered for the job.</p><p>In its letter, AU said “[A]rk Encounter’s ongoing religious discrimination violates terms to which it previously agreed in order to receive these tax incentives and … state-subsidized religious discrimination raises serious concerns under… the Kentucky Constitution.”</p><p>It seems AU’s point hit home pretty quickly: Just five days after AU’s complaint, Bob Stewart, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, told AiG that the job posting raised “serious concerns” and “[t]he Commonwealth doesn’t believe that Ark Encounter, LLC will be complying with state and Federal law in its hiring practices.”</p><p>As a result, Stewart said, “we are not prepared to move forward with consideration of the application for final approval without the assurance of Ark Encounter, LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring.”</p><p>According to the Louisville <em>Courier-Journal</em>, which obtained Stewart’s correspondence with Ark Encounter, Ark Encounter attorney James Parsons said the job in question was for AiG, not Ark Encounter, and his client will “comply with all applicable federal and state laws” on hiring.</p><p>That defense is pretty thin. AiG is Ark Encounter’s parent company, after all. Does Parsons really expect anyone to believe it has zero say in the people the Ark Park hires?</p><p>The original posting has been <a href="https://arkencounter.com/faq/">removed from AiG’s website</a>, and <a href="https://arkencounter.com/faq/">a website for Ark Encounter states</a> that “Staff for the Ark Encounter will be hired by the Ark Encounter LLC when construction is complete.” However, back in August the design technician position was advertised under the heading: “Answers in Genesis, Careers at Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum - CAD Technician Designer, Ark Encounter.” At the time, it was listed on AiG’s website, so it sure seems like AiG is involved with Ark Park hiring.</p><p>We’re not exactly sure why Kentucky officials suddenly got cold feet, but it might have something to do with the fact that Ark Encounter isn’t going to employ anywhere near as many people as originally thought. When AiG finally announced it would begin hiring for the Ark Park over the summer, it was reportedly looking to fill just 265 jobs, 218 of which will be part time. That’s far short of the 900 positions lawmakers had expected.</p><p>Whatever the reason for Kentucky’s change of course, it seems things are finally looking up. Lawmakers had been so desperate to create jobs that they were willing to do just about anything – even something unconstitutional – if it meant a little economic boost for their state. But now that it’s clear Ark Encounter is only planning to hire Christian fundamentalists, the Ark Park isn’t looking like such a great deal for Kentucky. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a flood of backlash that will finally sink the ark’s taxpayer subsidies.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice">Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice in the Workplace</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/answers-genesis">Answers in Genesis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-encounter">Ark Encounter</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky-tourism-development-finance-authority">Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/kentucky">Kentucky</a></span></div></div>Wed, 08 Oct 2014 17:11:26 +0000Simon Brown10579 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/stormy-seas-discriminatory-hiring-practices-at-ky-ark-park-put-its-tax#commentsPrayer Panacea?: Ky. Group Says ‘Inspirational Messages’ In Public Schools Will Solve Several Illshttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/prayer-panacea-ky-group-says-inspirational-messages-in-public-schools-will
<a href="/about/people/ms-sarah-e-jones">Sarah E. Jones</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The Kentucky chapter of the American Family Association (AFA) just released a petition that declares, in no uncertain terms, that prayer in schools will take us back to Jesus and best of all, boost student test scores, lower the crime rate and even decrease the rate of HIV infection.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>A Religious Right group in Kentucky is calling on parents to demand the right to deliver “inspirational messages” during public school assemblies, and they’re providing some interesting “facts” to make their case.<br /><br />The Kentucky chapter of the American Family Association (AFA) just released a <a href="http://kyschoolprayerpetition.questionpro.com/">petition</a> that declares, in no uncertain terms, that prayer in schools will take us back to Jesus and best of all, boost student test scores, lower the crime rate and even decrease the rate of HIV infection.</p><p>“After prayer was removed from our schools, teen pregnancy went up 500%, STD’s went up 226%, violent crime went up 500% and SAT scores went down for 18 years in a row, opening the door for the AIDS epidemic and the drug culture,” asserts the petition.<br /><br />Take that, science!<br /><br />The AFA blames “anti-God” forces for this moral decay and draws inspiration for their petition from new laws in Mississippi and Florida. These laws allow children to give “inspirational messages” in school assemblies. That means school prayer, according to the group, and they’re demanding that Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear adopt similar legislation.<br /><br />The AFA likely got its “facts” from David Barton, the Religious Right’s preeminent pseudo-historian, who also <a href="http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0124_When_America_stopped.html">attributes</a> pretty much every bad thing that has happened in America over the past 50 years to <em>Engel v. Vitale</em>, the landmark 1962 Supreme Court ruling that struck down mandatory, coercive forms of school-sponsored prayer<em>.</em><br /><br />In fact, the belief that if one event occurred after another, the first must have caused the second is a common logical fallacy. The two may be related, but some proof is needed, not just an assertion. This is the sort of thing you learn in day one of a course in logic or critical thinking, so naturally I wouldn’t expect anyone at the AFA to know it.</p><p>And let’s remember, the <em>Engel</em> ruling was clear: Despite these laws in Florida and Mississippi it is unconstitutional for a public school to conduct prayer. It became unconstitutional in 1962, and it’s still unconstitutional in 2013.<br /><br />One wonders what, exactly, the AFA considers “inspirational.” A quick glance at its website offers a clue. Kentucky children could learn that being gay <a href="http://www.afa.net/Radio/show.aspx?id=2147493203&amp;tab=blog&amp;blogpost=2147511183">leads</a> to disease and early death. Maybe they’ll get a crash course in <a href="http://www.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147537526">apologetics</a> along with the traditional Three Rs. Maybe Kentucky will get its own Pam Stenzel <a href="http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201304110229">fiasco</a>. After all, who needs facts when you’ve got conviction?<br /><br />It’s clear which of the two AFA prioritizes. For all its criticism of alleged anti-religious indoctrination in the public schools, it offers nothing more substantial on its own end. Its Kentucky chapter’s <a href="http://www.afaofky.com/aboutus.htm">website</a> rather simplistically proclaims,“Some people believe in God. Some oppose God and try to prevent others from receiving the love of God.”</p><p>So many assertions, so few citations – <em>no</em> citations, in fact, to support their claims that without God, without fundamentalist Christianity specifically, Kentucky’s children will be abandoned to the “law of the jungle” and the predatory impulses of those dangerous gays. AFA isn’t concerned about education. This is just a salvo in the culture wars, and if Beshear surrenders to it, children will suffer.<br /><br />The Religious Right already enjoys a toe-hold in Kentucky public education. Kentucky <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/state-policies-on-sex-education-in-schools.aspx">law</a> <a href="http://www.abstinenceworks.org/what-about-my-state-mainmenu-90#KENTUCKY">prioritizes</a> “abstinence-only” education, which is probably the real source of Kentucky’s STD and teen pregnancy woes. And a recent attempt to mandate scientifically accurate curriculum in schools met with significant <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/next-generation-science-standards_n_3672418.html">backlash</a> from conservative churches and religious groups.<br /><br />Kentucky’s children deserve better. A school’s job is to impart knowledge, not dogma, even if the AFA thinks they’re one and the same.</p><p>The AFA is clearly in the wrong. They’re wrong to claim that, somehow, prayer affects rates of AIDS, teen pregnancy and SAT scores. They’re wrong on the law. And they’re wrong to pressure Kentucky’s state government to endorse religion.</p><p>Beshear should respond to AFA’s petition with a resounding “citation needed.”<br /> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/school-prayer">School Prayer</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/david-barton">David Barton</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/teen-pregnancy">teen pregnancy</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/hiv">HIV</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/american-family-association">American Family Association</a></span></div></div>Fri, 02 Aug 2013 14:40:20 +0000Ms. Sarah E. Jones8801 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/prayer-panacea-ky-group-says-inspirational-messages-in-public-schools-will#commentsFalse Freedom: Ky. Governor Should Veto Reckless ‘Religious Liberty’ Lawhttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/false-freedom-ky-governor-should-veto-reckless-religious-liberty-law
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The Kentucky &#039;religious freedom&#039; bill is a power grab. It’s all about some religious groups winning the legal right to discriminate against others and deny them certain rights.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Kentucky legislators have passed a law they say protects “religious freedom” and have forwarded it to Gov. Steve Beshear.</p><p>This morning, Americans United joined other groups in the state asking Beshear to veto the bill.</p><p>It’s not that AU doesn’t support religious freedom. Indeed, we consider the separation of church and state a necessary precondition for true religious liberty to flourish. The problem is, this bill isn’t really about religious freedom; it’s designed to do other things entirely.</p><p>The measure, House Bill 279, could essentially give Kentucky residents wide-ranging new powers to discriminate against others by citing religion.</p><p>What are some of the things that could happen if this bill becomes law? A pharmacist could refuse to provide Plan B drugs to a rape victim. The owner of an apartment building could refuse to rent to an unmarried couple. A woman who gets pregnant out of wedlock could be summarily fired from her job. The measure would also largely nullify protections for gays and lesbians that a handful of Kentucky communities have passed.</p><p>In short, the bill could end up elevating the religious beliefs of some people over the civil rights of all. This goes too far.</p><p>Americans United, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Fairness Coalition (an LGBT rights group) make this point in <a href="http://aclu-ky.org/images/stories/hb279_veto_request_2013_allies.pdf">a letter</a> that was sent to Beshear this morning. More than four dozen groups signed the letter.</p><p>“House Bill 279 does not explicitly make clear that existing civil rights protections are both necessary and appropriate, therefore elected judges throughout Kentucky’s 120 counties will be forced to decide that question on a case-by-case basis,” observes the letter. “A religious individual could claim an exemption from <em>any</em> law or policy that prohibits discrimination – leaving racial minorities, women, LGBT people, and others without adequate protections. These civil rights protections are too important, and the risk of inconsistent decisions too great, to leave it unaddressed by House Bill 279.”</p><p>The Associated Press <a href="http://www.wowktv.com/story/21607160/ky-governor-being-pressured-on-religious-freedom-bill">has reported</a> that Beshear is facing a lot of pressure over this bill. The Family Foundation, a statewide Religious Right group affiliated with Focus on the Family, is lobbying Beshear to sign it.</p><p>Religious Right groups claim that religious freedom is under fire in Kentucky because last year the state supreme court ruled that a state law requiring orange safety triangles on slow-moving vehicles could be applied to the Amish. Some members of the Amish served short jail terms rather than display the bright signs, which they consider “loud” and “worldly.”</p><p>No one should be fooled. This isn’t about the Amish. In fact, that law has already been modified to address their concerns. (The Amish have agreed to use reflective tape, lanterns and red reflector lights instead.) This bill is a power grab. It’s all about some religious groups winning the legal right to discriminate against others and deny them certain rights.</p><p>Beshear should veto this misguided measure.</p><p> </p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice">Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice in the Workplace</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/outside-workplace-discrimination-exemptions-religious-practice-including-military-prisons">Institutional Discrimination, Exemptions &amp; Religious Practice (Including Military, Prisons &amp; Healthcare)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-refusals-and-rfra">Religious Refusals and RFRA</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/fairness-coalition">Fairness Coalition</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/american-civil-liberties-union">American Civil Liberties Union</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/family-foundation">Family Foundation</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/focus-family">Focus On The Family</a></span></div></div>Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:37:20 +0000Rob Boston8131 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/false-freedom-ky-governor-should-veto-reckless-religious-liberty-law#commentsKentucky Legislature Should Delete Budget Funding To Benefit ‘Ark Park,’ Says Americans Unitedhttps://au.org/media/press-releases/kentucky-legislature-should-delete-budget-funding-to-benefit-%E2%80%98ark-park%E2%80%99-says
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>The Kentucky legislature’s plan to spend $2 million on a road project benefitting a proposed “Ark Park” is constitutionally dubious and a waste of scarce taxpayer dollars, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.</p><p>The budget currently under consideration in the legislature includes the special transportation funding even though state officials are relentlessly looking for places to trim spending and the Ark Park may not even be built. Plans for opening the Ark Encounter, a biblical theme park in Grant County, have been repeatedly delayed due to lack of donations.</p><p>Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “Legislators are desperately looking for ways to cut the budget, yet they are including $2 million to benefit the Ark Park. That’s an astonishing lapse in judgment. Taxpayers should never be forced to support a religious ministry, and it is particularly appalling to do so when essential public services are being cut.”</p><p>AU’s Lynn noted that the state constitution specifically bans use of taxpayer funds to support religion. Section 5 says taxpayers may not be forced to “contribute to the erection or maintenance” of any place of worship.</p><p>Lynn said some observers think the Ark Park may never open and the state funds spent on the Highway 36 road project may be a complete waste. He said it recalls the national controversy over the “bridge to nowhere,” a $400-million pork-barrel project in Alaska that Congress considered funding in 2005.</p><p>Said Lynn, “Legislators should not waste $2 million on a ‘road to nowhere.’ At a time when legislators have even voted down preschool funding for poor kids, this misuse of taxpayer dollars is utterly unacceptable.</p><p>“If the legislature leaves this money in the budget,” Lynn continued, “Gov. Steve Beshear should use the line-item veto to take it out. It would save scarce public resources and avoid constitutional problems. This appropriation of taxpayer money for religion would likely be struck down by the courts.”</p><p>The Ark Park, sponsored by Answers in Genesis, would purportedly feature a full-size replica of Noah’s Ark. A ground-breaking for the project, which is intended to promote a fundamentalist understanding of the Bible, has been repeatedly delayed, and media reports suggest the ministry has received less than $5 million of the $24.5 million sought to build the facility.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/other-government-subsidies-religious-institutions-not-including-schools">Other Government Subsidies of Religious Institutions</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-encounters">Ark Encounters</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/ark-park">Ark Park</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/answers-genesis">Answers in Genesis</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span></div></div><h3 >$2 Million Allocation For ‘Road To Nowhere’ Violates Constitution And Common Sense, Says Church-State Watchdog&nbsp;Group</h3><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Location:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/our-work/grassroots/kentucky">Kentucky</a></span></div></div>Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:44:17 +0000Simon Brown6947 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/media/press-releases/kentucky-legislature-should-delete-budget-funding-to-benefit-%E2%80%98ark-park%E2%80%99-says#commentsBad Breakfast: AU Tells Ky. Officials To Stop Promoting Religious Eventhttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bad-breakfast-au-tells-ky-officials-to-stop-promoting-religious-event
<a href="/about/people/rob-boston">Rob Boston</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-callout field-type-text-long field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">The government’s stance on religion should be strict neutrality. Prodding people to attend a prayer event is not neutrality.</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Government officials can and do sponsor and promote various public events. Job fairs, educational seminars and town hall meetings are just a few examples. When these events occur, government officials often go out of their way to make sure people know about them and urge them to attend.</p><p>Can they do the same with a prayer breakfast?</p><p>Americans United says no. In Kentucky, <a href="http://www.pendletontimespost.com/view/story/5acb6a9bdf994331bf52383ba6515ed5/KY--Prayer-Breakfast/">AU has asked</a> Gov. Steve Beshear to see to it that state officials drop their sponsorship of a March 6 prayer breakfast.</p><p>Americans United has received several complaints about the event. Yesterday, AU Associate Legal Director Alex J. Luchenitser and Madison Fellow Brooke R. Hardy sent a letter to Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway, asking them to end any appearance of state endorsement of what it is clearly a religious event.</p><p>Luchenitser and Hardy noted in the letter that the breakfast is referred to as the “Governor’s Prayer Breakfast” and that it is being heavily promoted on the state’s official website. On the site, Beshear notes that he selected the theme for the event, which is described as a time for Kentuckians to “come together in prayerful humility and reflection to ask God’s wisdom in guiding the future of [the] Commonwealth.”</p><p>Here’s the problem with that: Not all Kentucky residents may want to pray at the governor’s urging. Some don’t want to pray at all. It’s none of the state’s business whether they do or don’t. When state officials heavily promote an event like this, the clear message is that they think you ought to be religious and pray. Promoting faith isn’t in their job description.</p><p>Whenever Americans United protests events like this, we encounter the same arguments. None are particularly persuasive, but here they are:</p><p><em>The prayer breakfast is privately sponsored. </em>Really? You could have fooled me. It’s <a href="http://governor.ky.gov/Pages/prayerbreakfast.aspx">all over the Kentucky government’s website</a>, and it sure looks like the state has a heavy hand in it. As Luchenitser and Hardy noted in their letter, “The name of the event includes the Governor’s official title. The event is advertised on the Commonwealth’s official website, directly below a banner that includes the Commonwealth’s official seal, the Governor’s title, and the text ‘Kentucky.gov.’ Those who wish to attend the Breakfast, whether as individuals or legislators, can reserve a spot using a form linked to the same website. That form, which can be submitted electronically directly from the website, itself bears the official seal of the Commonwealth.”</p><p><em>The event is non-sectarian and/or ecumenical. </em>So what? Government should not promote “non-sectarian” religion any more than it should promote a specific faith. Ecumenism is also no defense. When government promotes 10 religions instead of one, it’s only compounding the problem. The government’s stance on religion should be strict neutrality. Prodding people to attend a prayer event is not neutrality.</p><p><em>We’ve been doing it for years.</em> That’s irrelevant. Church-state violations don’t get grandfathered in because they’ve been going on for a long time. Beshear points out that the prayer breakfast started in 1965. All that means is that the state has been violating the law for 47 years. It’s time to stop.</p><p>No one is saying Beshear can’t attend a privately sponsored prayer breakfast. AU’s letter makes that clear. What we want is also clear: “[W]e ask the Governor’s office to cancel the Prayer Breakfast. Alternatively, if feasible at this late date, it may be possible to cure the constitutional violation if the Prayer Breakfast is converted into a privately sponsored event and the Governor’s office fully disassociates itself from the event. Among other actions, the Commonwealth and the Governor’s office must cease their official endorsement, promotion, and advertisement of the Breakfast – on the Commonwealth’s website and elsewhere. The Commonwealth and the Governor’s office must refrain from funding, planning, or organizing the Breakfast, and any state funds already spent for this year’s Breakfast must be reimbursed by private parties.”</p><p>Kentucky officials have a right to their bacon and eggs. They should leave the state-supported side of prayer off the taxpayer’s tab.</p></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/prayer-at-government-events-and-legislative-meetings">Prayer at Government Events and Legislative Meetings</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/prayer-breakfast">prayer breakfast</a></span></div></div>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:19:12 +0000Rob Boston6835 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bad-breakfast-au-tells-ky-officials-to-stop-promoting-religious-event#commentsPious Pandering: Ky. Politicians Are Using Religion To Appeal To Votershttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/pious-pandering-ky-politicians-are-using-religion-to-appeal-to-voters
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Is being a foe of church-state separation a prerequisite to being elected in Kentucky? How else can you explain all the work Kentucky government officials have done in the past two months to chip away at the church-state wall?</p>
<p>Yesterday, in the latest anti-separation move, the Kentucky Senate<a href="http://www.wlky.com/r/26818810/detail.html"> passed a measure</a> that would mandate creation of an official Bible curriculum for Kentucky’s public schools.</p>
<p>SB 56, which sailed through 34-1, directs the Kentucky Board of Education to create guidelines for a social studies elective on the Bible. (Kudos to Sen. Kathy Stein, a former AU National Advisory Council member and the <a href="http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/11RS/SB56/vote_history.pdf">lone vote against</a> the measure!)</p>
<p>State Sen. Joe Bowen introduced the bill this year. <a href="http://www.au.org/media/church-and-state/archives/2010/04/okla-ky-legislators.html">Last year</a>, the same measure passed the Senate, but failed in the House – a scenario that (hopefully) may repeat itself this year.</p>
<p>“No doubt about it, the most important book ever written, and obviously, it's had so much influence on our society and all of Western civilization," Bowen said of the reason why he wants to ensure Kentucky students have a chance to learn about the Bible.</p>
<p>The courts have deemed that courses on the Bible may be taught in public schools, so long as they are taught from an academic perspective, not as a way to indoctrinate.</p>
<p>Bowen claims SB 56 is merely providing a roadmap for how teachers can successfully teach these courses. The measure states the board should create guidelines for a course on the Bible’s influence on “literature, art, music, mores, oratory and public policy.” It mandates that the course maintain “religious neutrality” and respect “the diverse religious views of students.”</p>
<p>But is this measure really about academics and “religious neutrality?” And what does Bowen mean when he intimates that the Bible has a role in “public policy?”</p>
<p>Sen. Tim Shaughnessy, who voted for the measure last year, took a “closer look” this year before deciding not to cast a vote at all. He said the legislation includes a provision that permits students to use their own texts for the course. That “throws academic credibility out the window,” he noted.</p>
<p>State. Rep. Reggie Meeks also criticized the Senate for pandering to conservative Christian voters.</p>
<p>"It's like waving meat in front of a dog, OK? You give them what they want," Meeks told a local news station.</p>
<p>You give them what they want – even if it comes at the Constitution’s expense – and the expense of religious minorities and nonbelievers who may not want their public schools promoting one faith’s sacred scriptures.</p>
<p>Gov. Steve Beshear also seems eager to cater to religious voters. He recently <a href="http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=23868">apologized</a> to self-anointed “chaplain to the state capitol” Lee Watts for mistakenly denying Watts’ request to place a display in the state capitol of religious phrases wrenched from their original contexts in historical and governmental documents.</p>
<p>(Although referred to by both politicians and the media as a “legislative chaplain,” Watts is nothing of the kind. In fact, he’s just another Religious Right activist doing <a href="http://www.kbcpublicaffairs.org/2011/01/26/preachers-invited-to-state-capitol-on-feb-8/">everything in his power</a> to usher in a fundamentalist Christian theocracy. His “<a href="http://www.godandcountryministry.com/index.html">God and Country Ministry</a>” says America was “founded as a Christian nation, and she can be again, but it will take a new generation of patriots.”)</p>
<p>Initially, State Curator David Buchta, head of the Kentucky Division of Historic Properties, made the right call and denied Watts’ requests based on concerns about church-state separation. But Beshear’s office soon stepped in.</p>
<p>“We are disappointed in this misunderstanding,” said Kerri Richardson, a spokeswoman for Beshear. “We have advised Chaplain Watts that Mr. Buchta was incorrect, and the governor’s office is working with Chaplain Watts to post historical documents in the tunnel.”</p>
<p>But it doesn’t stop there. Kentucky legislators have also <a href="http://blog.au.org/2011/02/08/%E2%80%98science-guy%E2%80%99-speaks-out-bill-nye-says-nay-to-anti-evolution-crusade-as-bills-pop-up-in-the-states/">introduced an anti-evolution bill</a> this session, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has <a href="http://blog.au.org/2010/12/20/state-plate-grates-kentucky-government-proposes-%E2%80%98in-god-we-trust%E2%80%99-license-tags/">unveiled a new standard-issue license plate</a> with the words, “In God We Trust.”</p>
<p>Beshear has also <a href="http://www.au.org/media/videos/archives/2011/aus-lynn-remarks-on-ark.html?utm_source=au%2Bhomepage&amp;utm_medium=homepage%2Bbanner&amp;utm_campaign=Featured%2Bon%20homepage">voiced his strong support</a> for the building of a creationist theme park featuring a full-scale replica of Noah’s ark – and lots of fundamentalist proselytizing. He has promised developers tax incentives to build in the Bluegrass State.</p>
<p>It’s clear Kentucky needs help. If you live in the Commonwealth, write to your state legislators and Gov. Beshear and let them know you want a strong wall between separation of church and state. The state has a lot of problems that need addressing; elected officials ought to focus on those, not meddling in religion.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religion-public-schools-and-universities">Religion in Public Schools and Universities</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/issues/religious-mottos-pledges-and-resolutions">Religious Mottos, Pledges and Resolutions</a></span></div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/bible-curriculum">Bible Curriculum</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/david-buchta">David Buchta</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kathy-stein">Kathy Stein</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky-senate">Kentucky Senate</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/lee-watts">Lee Watts</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/reggie-meeks">Reggie Meeks</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religion-and-politics">Religion and politics</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span></div></div>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:04:04 +0000Sandhya Bathija2504 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/pious-pandering-ky-politicians-are-using-religion-to-appeal-to-voters#commentsState Plate Grates: Kentucky Government Proposes ‘In God We Trust’ License Tagshttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/state-plate-grates-kentucky-government-proposes-%E2%80%98in-god-we-trust%E2%80%99-license
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>There is trouble brewing in Kentucky once again. This time, the state government plans to offer new license plates for those who want to outwardly express their belief in God.</p>
<p>The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced plans to make available two standard-issue license plates next year – the traditional one that uses the state slogan “Unbridled Spirit,” and a new one that adds the words “In God We Trust.”</p>
<p>These tags will be the only two options available for Kentuckians for the basic price of $21. If drivers want to purchase a specialty plate for various causes, schools and organizations, those are available for a premium price.</p>
<p>The cabinet said the new plates will be available for 2011.</p>
<p>“The cabinet often receives comments from people out in the state expressing interest in having something like this,” cabinet spokesman Chuck Wolfe <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/article/201012171620/NEWS01/312170081?odyssey=mod_related_topix">told</a> the Louisville <em>Courier-Journal</em>. “The cabinet believes there's a sizable group of people who would like to have this choice.”</p>
<p>By mid-January, 95,000 versions of the “In God We Trust” plates will be ready for purchase. (In 2010, 542,000 vehicle registrations were renewed in the first two months of the year.)</p>
<p>Wolfe told the newspaper that there are no church-state concerns with the new plate. “In God We Trust” is the national motto, he said, and motorists can choose an alternate plate for the same price.</p>
<p>I don’t know if Wolfe is right about the legal issue. Courts do sometimes uphold generic expressions of religion. But regardless, the proposed new plate is a bad idea.</p>
<p>The Rev. Paul Simmons, president of the Louisville Americans United Chapter, explained.</p>
<p>“It's the kind of deism, a general God, that's offensive to people who take religion seriously, and to those who take separation [of church and state] seriously,” he told the <em>Courier-Journal</em>. “I dislike this sort of bumper-sticker, license-plate religion.”</p>
<p>Simmons is absolutely right. It’s unnecessary for the state to create this special plate. Those who are truly religious don’t need the government’s help to make that point. It’s easy enough to affix a bumper sticker or other faith symbol on your car – without assistance from the state.</p>
<p>Plus, the Constitution requires the government to remain neutral on religion, and issuing these tags is certainly not a good example of that.</p>
<p>You’d think Gov. Steve Beshear and his administration would have done enough to promote religion this month already. He <a href="http://blog.au.org/2010/12/02/ark-park-earmark-kentucky-governor-floats-religion-funding-scheme/">has touted</a> his plan to provide tax incentives – as much as $37.5 million -- for a fundamentalist Christian theme park featuring a full-scale version of Noah’s ark. And he <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/07/1555304/beshear-displays-nativity-scene.html">displayed</a> in the governor’s mansion a Nativity scene distributed by the divisive and militantly sectarian Catholic League.</p>
<p>It’s clearly past time for Gov. Beshear and his administration to drop the religious crusade and start honoring the constitutional separation of church and state.</p>
<p>P.S. While things may be disappointing in Kentucky, we did receive some good news out of New Jersey. A court has <a href="http://www.aclu-nj.org/news/2010/12/17/court-halts-prayers-in-point-pleasant-beach/">ordered</a> Point Pleasant Beach to discontinue <a href="http://blog.au.org/2010/12/14/point-pleasant-unpleasantness-n-j-town-council-should-give-up-sectarian-prayers/?utm_source=au-homepage&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Recently-on-homepage">government-led sectarian invocations</a> at municipal council meetings until a ruling can be made on the prayer policy’s constitutionality.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/god-we-trust-license-plates">In God We Trust License Plates</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky-transportation-cabinet">Kentucky Transportation Cabinet</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/official-prayer-religious-displays-amp-ceremonial-religion-outside-schools">Official Prayer, Religious Displays &amp;amp; Ceremonial Religion (outside schools)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span></div></div>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:40:30 +0000Sandhya Bathija2494 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/state-plate-grates-kentucky-government-proposes-%E2%80%98in-god-we-trust%E2%80%99-license#commentsArk Park Update: Ky. Gov. Says State Won’t Allow Job Bias – But That’s Not Enoughhttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ark-park-update-ky-gov-says-state-won%E2%80%99t-allow-job-bias-%E2%80%93-but-that%E2%80%99s-not
<a href="/about/people/bathija">Sandhya Bathija</a><div class="field field-name-field-blog-type field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blogs/wall-of-separation">Wall of Separation</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="prose"><p>Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear at least has one thing right: taxpayers should never be required to fund discrimination.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Beshear outraged scientists, civil liberties activists and, indeed, lots of people who care about reasonable and responsible government, with his plan to provide tax incentives for the developers of a creationism-themed park featuring a full-size rendering of Noah’s ark.</p>
<p>Not only was the state’s endorsement of a religious viewpoint troublesome from a constitutional perspective, it also <a href="http://blog.au.org/2010/12/02/ark-park-earmark-kentucky-governor-floats-religion-funding-scheme/">irked</a> scientists that the governor was planning to promote bad science. Paleontologists are <a href="http://ncse.com/news/2010/12/controversy-over-proposed-creationist-theme-park-006347">pretty darn sure</a> that Earth is more than 6,000 years old and that humans and dinosaurs did not exist at the same time, and state support for a fundamentalist Christian facility that says otherwise is a bad idea.</p>
<p>Beshear has since taken a small step in the right direction -- though it’s still quite far from where he needs to be. The governor has <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101209/NEWS01/312090053/Beshear+says+Ark+park+contract+will+prohibit+religious+discrimination">assured</a> us that the park’s fundamentalist Christian backers will not be able to discriminate in hiring on the basis of religion.</p>
<p>“We’re going to require that anybody that we deal with is going to obey all of the laws on hiring and not discriminate on hiring,” Beshear told the Louisville <em>Courier-Journal</em>. <em> </em>“As a matter of fact, part of the language that will be in agreements … is that they are going to abide by the law in terms of hiring and that they agree not to discriminate, so we will certainly have the ability to deal with it if we find that it happens.”</p>
<p>That’s good to know, especially considering Beshear promised that his support of the park had nothing to do with his religious beliefs, but rather his determination to create more jobs. At least we know he wants to create jobs for everyone, not just for those who believe a certain religious view.</p>
<p>Still, Beshear’s recent opposition to hiring discrimination hardly cures the constitutional problem. This is a still religious project and the state is still funding it.</p>
<p>The Kentucky constitution makes it abundantly clear that there should be no government aid to religion. Section 5 says in part:</p>
<p>“No preference shall ever be given by law to any religious sect, society or denomination; nor to any particular creed, mode of worship or system of ecclesiastical polity; nor shall any person be compelled to attend any place of worship, to contribute to the erection or maintenance of any such place, or to the salary or support of any minister of religion….”</p>
<p>Hmmmm. It sounds like the state government is forbidden to support the “ark park,” and it may not force taxpayers to subsidize it.</p>
<p>While we appreciate Beshear’s efforts to minimize some of the constitutional damage, it’s simply not enough.</p>
<p>It also doesn’t make much sense that Beshear thinks this is the best way to go about creating jobs. He should at least realize the mockery he is subjecting Kentucky to. Both the Lexington <em>Herald-Leader</em> and the<em> </em>Louisville <em>Courier-Journal</em> have written editorials blasting the governor for his decision to support a project that opposes sound science and plays up a fundamentalist viewpoint.</p>
<p>“Hostility to science, knowledge and education does little to attract the kind of employers that will provide good-paying jobs with a future,” the <em>Herald-Leader</em> <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/03/1550758/ark-incentives-cheap-jobs-poor.html">observed</a>.</p>
<p>Neither newspaper wants their state to be a laughing stock. And both make it clear that religion should pay its own way, not depend on the government.</p>
<p>I’m no biblical scholar, but as far as I know, Noah built the first ark without government assistance. These modern-day entrepreneurs should do so as well.</p>
</div></div><div class="tags clearfix"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/creationism">creationism</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/creationism-theme-park">Creationism Theme Park</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/evolution">evolution</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/kentucky">kentucky</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/noahs-ark">Noah&#039;s Ark</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/official-prayer-religious-displays-amp-ceremonial-religion-outside-schools">Official Prayer, Religious Displays &amp;amp; Ceremonial Religion (outside schools)</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/religious-discrimination">religious discrimination</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/science">science</a></span>, <span class="field-item"><a href="/tags/steve-beshear">Steve Beshear</a></span></div></div>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:34:22 +0000Sandhya Bathija2491 at https://au.orghttps://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/ark-park-update-ky-gov-says-state-won%E2%80%99t-allow-job-bias-%E2%80%93-but-that%E2%80%99s-not#comments